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wintermute47's review against another edition
3.0
I feel like prequels in general are a bad idea. No matter how valid the story concept is, most authors seem unable to resist the temptation to throw in references to the story-to-come. I'm not sure if this is meant to be an Easter egg for the fan, or if it's meant to inspire a feeling of dramatic irony, but personally I feel that it almost always requires too much suspension of disbelief and it takes me out of the story as a result. I thought this was a problem with the 'Jack: Secret History' series, and now I feel it's a problem with Repairman Jack: The Early Years (an unfortunately cliched title).
It's still fun spending some time with Jack, even if he's only beginning to develop the skills and talents that make his other appearances so compelling. And as this is part of a trilogy it's perhaps unfair to judge it too harshly in isolation, but one big complaint I have is that very little is resolved in this novel. Several subplots arise and at most one is dealt with decisively--I didn't really feel like the ending had been earned. The novel also features what's probably the most embarrassing sex scene ever written, no mean feat for an author who seems to have no ability to write interesting female characters.
All in all Wilson might have been better off writing a series of short stories a la 'Quick Fixes,' his previous collection of short RJ stories. I'll continue to follow this series, but I'm less optimistic than I had been about how well they'll end up.
It's still fun spending some time with Jack, even if he's only beginning to develop the skills and talents that make his other appearances so compelling. And as this is part of a trilogy it's perhaps unfair to judge it too harshly in isolation, but one big complaint I have is that very little is resolved in this novel. Several subplots arise and at most one is dealt with decisively--I didn't really feel like the ending had been earned. The novel also features what's probably the most embarrassing sex scene ever written, no mean feat for an author who seems to have no ability to write interesting female characters.
All in all Wilson might have been better off writing a series of short stories a la 'Quick Fixes,' his previous collection of short RJ stories. I'll continue to follow this series, but I'm less optimistic than I had been about how well they'll end up.
hotsake's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was Fun, fast-paced, and "younger" Jack was mostly well-realized. There were a couple of eye-roll moments mostly dealing with his unneeded love interest. My only other complaint was the open-ended ending.
nickn77's review against another edition
2.0
Cold City is a prequel to F. Paul Wilson’s Repairman Jack series. Unfortunately, the series would have been better had it been left alone. The story was contrived with almost all of Repairman Jack’s backstory unfolding over the course of a week. If you want to know how Jack connected with Abe, Julio, etc… you’ll find out in a very forced unenjoyable fashion. Skip this one.
tigger1192's review against another edition
3.0
Typical "guy mystery." I liked Jack, but I didn't care a whole lot for the author inserting his own political views into the story. It was unnecessary. I also didn't realize it was the first book in a trilogy when I picked it for my book club, so now I know I'll get fussed at by my old lady fan club for doing that since the mystery (or really, the threads of the story since there WAS no mystery) isn't tied up. I'll finish the trilogy, just to know how it ends, but I doubt if I'll read any more Repairman Jack novels. I get the gist.
rlbrock's review against another edition
4.0
I have to say I was excited to have the old Jack back, the one before he becomes completely mired in the Secret History of the World. Turns out, not so much. While he's clueless, he's completed mired in it already and, thus, so is the reader. Still...I've always felt that Jack was an exceptionally three-dimensional character for a thriller and Wilson continues to do an excellent job in the backstory showing how he got the way he is. A great deal falls to luck or coincidence, but because of the whole Heir thing, you can assume a guiding hand. I also particularly enjoyed meeting Abe -- unlike Jack, he often struck me and relentlessly flat, less so here. The plot began slowly, but as with Jack novels of old, picked up to become compelling; however, this is not a self-contained story. I understand there are to be three of these prequels; my guess now is that they'll all run together in one over-arching story.
timgesner's review against another edition
4.0
I like Jack. A lot. I like that Jack is a loner (but really isn't) that he doesn't want strings, but does. He is a study in contradictions at times, but ultimately it is his heart and his mind, working together that makes this such a good book. He's not a serial killer that just takes out anyone who cuts him off in traffic, he takes care of the things that need taken care of. He does what our society and our rules cannot. He always looks out for the little guy, the people who can't help themselves. Does he make a few bucks here and there, hell yeah. Some of Jack's "solutions" are well thought out and I like the way these books are joined together by a subtle theme. Jack is my hero.
emmasimone's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyed this introduction to the character of Jack before he become "Repairman Jack". Lots of action and character building.
whovian223's review against another edition
4.0
A great start to the final Repairman Jack trilogy, telling us how Jack became such a great Repairman. He's green around the edges, but already has the darkness that has inhabited him. He's a bit naive, not quite willing to do what must be done, but he's learning quickly. Very obviously the first in a series, as nothing whatsoever is resolved.
topdragon's review against another edition
5.0
Ahhh…it’s a wonderful feeling to get back to Repairman Jack, one of my all-time favorite series, and one of my favorite characters. I’d finished the original RJ series over a year ago as well as the related series, “The Adversary Cycle” (some 20 books in all) and have been looking forward to diving into this prequel trilogy ever since then.
This first book of the trilogy is really a fairly straight-forward thriller novel, albeit with quite a complex array of sub-plots. It basically serves as a sort of origin story for Jack. We get to see how he gets his start as a fixer, how he learns to live off the grid, the budding relationship with friend and mentor Abe, as well as quite a few opportunities to see how he acquires his various skills (hand-to-hand fighting, lock picking, pick pocketing, shooting, etc.) that will come in so handy in the later series. This novel does set up the second and third books and while a variety of antagonists are introduced, their plot lines are not all concluded in this first book.
While some readers may want to start here so as to read the entire RJ series in chronological order (not counting the “Secret Histories” YA trilogy that takes place even earlier), I am happy to be coming to it at the end. Knowing Jack’s future and having a good handle on the entire “Secret History of the World” makes it fun when Easter Eggs happen in this prequel trilogy. There’s just something about elderly women and dogs that tends to affect Jack’s life so when I see that here, I understand the nature of destiny and what is waiting in Jack’s future.
This first book of the trilogy is really a fairly straight-forward thriller novel, albeit with quite a complex array of sub-plots. It basically serves as a sort of origin story for Jack. We get to see how he gets his start as a fixer, how he learns to live off the grid, the budding relationship with friend and mentor Abe, as well as quite a few opportunities to see how he acquires his various skills (hand-to-hand fighting, lock picking, pick pocketing, shooting, etc.) that will come in so handy in the later series. This novel does set up the second and third books and while a variety of antagonists are introduced, their plot lines are not all concluded in this first book.
While some readers may want to start here so as to read the entire RJ series in chronological order (not counting the “Secret Histories” YA trilogy that takes place even earlier), I am happy to be coming to it at the end. Knowing Jack’s future and having a good handle on the entire “Secret History of the World” makes it fun when Easter Eggs happen in this prequel trilogy. There’s just something about elderly women and dogs that tends to affect Jack’s life so when I see that here, I understand the nature of destiny and what is waiting in Jack’s future.
songwind's review against another edition
2.0
Cold City is a fun book that unfortunately fails to really tie anything up. It feels more like the first half of a novel than a book itself.
Jack is on the run from home. After his mother dies in a senseless act of random mayhem, he drops out of school and takes off without telling anyone where he'd gone. Taking advantage of his lack of Social Security number, he adopts a new name and tries to make a life in New York City.
Where the book shines is in its characters. Jack is an interesting puzzle, less conservative than many similar characters I've read, and strongly moral, but not averse to violence or breaking the rules. His mentor/father figure Abe is amusing and complex.
The book leans rather heavily on the "wicked Muslim jihadi" stereotype, which grew boring. There was not much effort to introduce any related characters who differed significantly, or who took different paths to the same goals.
But the biggest weakness was the lack of any kind of resolution. Individual events came to an end, but not the plots in which they occur. The book prompts a lot of questions without answering any of them. It made the ending of the story feel very abrupt.
I enjoyed the characters, and I see the potential for something interesting here. I'll probably end up reading or listening to another Repairman Jack story in the future. But Cold City wasn't compelling and I won't be rushing back to Jack Moore.
Jack is on the run from home. After his mother dies in a senseless act of random mayhem, he drops out of school and takes off without telling anyone where he'd gone. Taking advantage of his lack of Social Security number, he adopts a new name and tries to make a life in New York City.
Where the book shines is in its characters. Jack is an interesting puzzle, less conservative than many similar characters I've read, and strongly moral, but not averse to violence or breaking the rules. His mentor/father figure Abe is amusing and complex.
The book leans rather heavily on the "wicked Muslim jihadi" stereotype, which grew boring. There was not much effort to introduce any related characters who differed significantly, or who took different paths to the same goals.
But the biggest weakness was the lack of any kind of resolution. Individual events came to an end, but not the plots in which they occur. The book prompts a lot of questions without answering any of them. It made the ending of the story feel very abrupt.
I enjoyed the characters, and I see the potential for something interesting here. I'll probably end up reading or listening to another Repairman Jack story in the future. But Cold City wasn't compelling and I won't be rushing back to Jack Moore.